A ZEPPELIN RAID.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1917, Page 3

A ZEPPELIN RAID.

. THE LOST ZEPPELINS. )AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, October 22. The Paris correspondent with the French armies says: The crews of super-Zeppelins L 49 and LSO confirm the report that they partook in a single expedition against England. The fleet numbered twelve and left three ports separately. When they reached England they were bothered by anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights. They quickly dropped bombs, and rose ’to a height of three miles where they caught a strong northwesterly and became lost. The cold was extreme, the motors froze and the men .we're* The alternators would not work, and it wasc impossible to take bearings. One captain at dawn thought he was over Holland or Westphalia, and then recognised that he was on Franch soil. MORE' ZEPP LOSSES. [“REUTER’S” TELEGRAM.] PARIS, Oct. 22. Additional to the five Zepplins, whose fate has been mentioned, another was brought down between Sisteron and Gap ,the crew destroying the airship before surrendering. Two more were regarded as doomed. They were seen drifting above Gap. One was out of control. Thus, of the raiding fleet, it seems reasonably cprjtariiU tfljat only three, which were reported over Holland returned to Germany. THE RETURNING RAIDERS.

ZEPPELINS BROUGHT DOWN. PARIS, Oct. 21. An official report states that eleven Zeppelins raided France last night Mid were chased in all directions by aeroplanes and hnri-assed by gunfire. An official warning was given in Paris, but no bombs were dropped. Guns brought down a Zeppelin near Luneville, and another in the upper Marne district, while aeroplanes, brought down a third in Burgundy and a fourth in the Maritime Alps, after an all-ought chase. The report that a fifth was brought down is unconfirmed. The crew of one were taken prisoners and the Zeppelin itself intact. To other s were disabled when attacked by aeroplanos and anti-aircraft-guns and compelled to descend. The crew f s fired the airships and took flight, hut wero captured. Besides those) brought down, four disabled Zeppelin.q are cruising ’about France, two in itho south-west,, one over the Mediterranean, and one on the Swiss frontier. All are closely hemmed in by French aviators.

ZEPPHLIN LOSSES. ARROGANT GERMANS, (Received This D'"’ at 11.25. a.m 1 PARIS, October 23 It is still doubtful whether five or six Zeppelins were destroyed in Franco. Four or five escaped to Germany, though it is believed the Zeppelin which landed sixteen men at Montigny Lerox now lies at Midilps. German prisoners state thirteen Zeppelins participated in tho raid, of which number, eleven returned across France. , All the crews belong to the Navy, there being no longer any land Zeppelins. The officers were arrogant and claimed a special regime and room* at an hotel. Thoy wore much depressed when they were treated as prisoners. The officers and crew of L 45, which descended at Laargere, were captured by Madame Dupont, a' farmer’s wife, hut she wa s unable to prevent Captain Koeller setting fire, by shooting at the Zeppelin with a revolver. CAUSE OF DISASTER. fßeceived Tins at 11.25. a.m.) PARIS, October, 23. It is believed that the Zeppelin engines were frozen when they were cut off, and for two hours were drifting over London. This is the real cause of the disaster as it was impossible to restart them at a high altitude. The Zeppelins then drifted to France and were forced to descend at dawn, when French aeroplanes discovered them.